Bowling ball carrier

ABSTRACT

A carrying case is provided, which is adapted, among other things, to be used for the carrying of a bowling ball therein, in conjunction with the carrying of other items, such as bowling shoes, with apparatus for seating the bowling ball being movable in order to permit access to shoes also contained within the case.

United States Patent Cahill, Jr. 1 Sept. 12, 1972 [54] BOWLING BALL CARRIER [56] References Cited [72] Inventor: Thomas J. Cahill, Jr., Wilmington, UNITED STATES PATENTS Del. 3,011,648 12/1961 Einhom ..l/52 A X 2,946,458 7/1960 DuBoff et a1. ..21 1/ 162 X 1 Asslgnee- 2,850,063 9/1958 Horwitz ..150 52 A Clayton, Del. [22] Filed: Sept. 23, 1970 Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assistant ExaminerStephen P. Garbe [21] PP N04 74556 Attorney-Seidel, Gonda and Goldhammer 52 U.S. Cl ..150/52 A, 190/48, 190 51 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..Bd 65/02 A carrying case is provided, which is adapted, among [58] Field of Search ..248/424, 128; 211/162, 175, other things, to be used for the carrying of a bowling ball therein, in conjunction with the carrying of other items, such as bowling shoes, with apparatus for seating the bowling ball being movable in order to permit access to shoes also contained within the case.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDsEP 12 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 2 m R m WJ S G m 0 h T BY WFM ATTORNEYS.

PATENTED E 3.690.360

sum 2 or 2 INVENTOR. Thomas J. Cohill BY WFM ATTORNEYS BOWLING BALL CARRIER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art, various carriers have been designed, for carrying bowling balls in conjunction with shoes. Such prior art types of carriers, have traditionally been adapted specifically only for the carrying of bowling balls, and in those instances where such types of carrying cases have also been adapted for the carrying of bowling shoes, the carriers have not been adaptable for SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is addressed to overcoming the deficiencies of the above-mentioned and other types of prior art bowling ball carriers, in providing a carrier which is adaptable for carrying a bowling ball, as well as for other unrelated uses, and which, is adapted to carry bowling shoes and other items in addition to the bowling ball, but generally disposed in the carrier below the bowling ball, for ready access to the bowling ball, but with the bowling ball being carried within the casein such a manner as to also facilitate ready access to shoes and the like carried therebeneath. Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel carrying case for a bowling ball, which also provides access to the bottom of the carrying case.

It is a further object of this invention to accomplish the above object, whereby a removable structure is carried within the carrying case, which in turn, seats the bowling ball thereon.

It is a further'object of this invention to accomplish each of the above objects, wherein the bowling ball is carried for movement across the bottom of the carrying case, for access therebeneath.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel carrying case which is adaptable to receiving a bowling ball therein, disposed above the bottom of the carrying case, and spaced from the bottom of the carrying case an amount sufficient to contain other items, such as bowling shoes or the like therebeneath, and with the bowling. ball being carried by a structure within the carrying case that facilitates a sliding of the bowling ball to one side of the carrying case therefor, for access therebeneath to items carried in the case beneath the bowling ball.

It is another object of this invention to accomplish each of the above objects, wherein the carrying case is adaptable for uses other than the carrying of bowling balls therein.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from a reading of the following brief description of the drawing figures, detailed description of the preferred embodiment, and the appended claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a carrying case, and a bowling ball carrying structure adapted to be received therein.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bowling ball carrying structure that is illustrated in FIG. 1, but illustrated disposed within a carrying case,with the carrying case being illustrated in phantom, and with the bowling ball seating structure being illustrated in full line and phantom positions which correspond, respectively, to central and end positions of movement of the bowling ball seating device within its carrying case.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the bowling ball carrying structure of this invention, illustrated in disposition within a fragmentally illustrated carrying case (which is a phantom illustration), and which also illustrates the adaptability of the structure to receive a bowling ball (illustrated in phantom) therein, and to receive bowling shoes (also illustrated in phantom) therebeneath.

FIG. 4 is an enlargedsectional view, through a portion of a bowling ball seating device of this invention, taken generally along the line IV-IV of this invention, and illustrating the manner in which a bowling ball (fragmentally illustrated in phantom) is engaged by the seating device of this invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, taken through the sliding device of the bowling ball carrying structure of this invention, generally along the line V-V of FIG. 3, and wherein the manner in which the bowling ball seating means is slidably carried on rails which space the seating means above the bottom of the carrying case.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIG. 1, wherein a carrier generally designated by the numeral 10 is illustrated, as comprising acarrying case 11 and a bowling ball carrying structure 12. The carrying case 11 is of the type having opposed sidewalls l3 and 14, end walls 15 and 16, a bottom wall 17, and an upper opening 18, of the zippered opening type, generally in the configuration of a club bag. Handles 20 are provided, on each of the sides 13 and 14, connected thereto by suitable links 21, adapted for carrying the case, upon closure of the opening 18. Pockets 22 are optionally provided within the case 11, for receiving various articles as desired, therein. The carrying case 11 may be of any suitable type, but preferably is of the configuration illustrated, adaptable for a wide mouth, generally rectangular opening, such as that 18 illustrated in FIG. 1, at the upper end thereof, with opposite side portions 23 and 24 of the opening 18 being spaced from each other, in the completely open condition of the bag as illustrated in FIG. 1, an amount sufficient to clearly pass a bowling ball 25 (illustrated in phantom in FIG. 3) therethrough.

The carrying case 11 may be of the integrally molded type, if desired, such as is made in a rotocasting operation, or of any other suitable type.

The bowling ball carrying structure 12 generally comprises a pair of rails 26 and 27, disposed along opposite sides 14 and 13, respectively, of the case 11, at a substantial distance above the bottom 17 of the carrying case 11, and parallel to the bottom 17 of the carrying case 11, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The rails 26 and 27 are spaced from the bottom 17 by spacer portions 28, 30, 31 and 32.

The spacer portions 28 and 30 are separated by a bar portion 33, as are the portions 31 and 32 separated by a bar portion 34. The bar portions 33 and 34 are maintained in fixed space relationship relative to each other by a spacer bar 35, which has looped ends 36 and 37 thereof, in engagement with the bar portions 34 and 33, respectively, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The structure comprising portions 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 may be an integral, one-piece wire structure, of round cross-section as illustrated in FIG. 5, of any desired thickness, with opposite ends of the wire being joined (not shown) inside one of the looped portions 36 or-37 of the connection member 35. The connection member 35 may be of flat strip construction, and generally will reside on the inside surface of the bottom 17 of the carrying case 11, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

A bowling ball seating platform 40 is provided, that includes a first piece 41, that is also of generally onepiece metal wire construction, and which is also circular in cross-section as illustrated in FIG. 5, with the member 41 having a plurality of rubber sleeves 42 carried thereon, as illustrated in FIG. 2, equidistantly arcuately spaced about the circumference of the member 41, for providing resilient cushioning seats for the bowling ball 25, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Any suitable rubber or foam material will suffice for the sleeve member 42.

A pair of slider devices 43 and 44 are provided, which are also generally of thin sheet metal construction, and which are welded to the round wire portion 41, as illustrated at 45 in FIG. 5. The slider members 43 and 44, may each be bent into generally rectangular cross-section, as illustrated in FIG. 5, with opposite end portions 47 and 48 thereof in sliding engagement beneath an associated one of the rails 26 or 27 as illustrated in FIG. 5, and with internal surface portions 50, 51 and 52 of the members 43 and 44, also in sliding engagement with associated ones of the rails 26 and 27. It will, however, be noted that suitable devices for facilitating the sliding engagement between the rails 26 and 27 and the sliding members 44 and 43 may be utilized, such as teflon strips or the like,'as desired. It will also be noted that the cross-sectional configurations of the sliding members 43 and 44 may vary, such as assuming circular cross-sections, generally concentric with the rails 26 and 27 that are associated therewith, as desired. It will also be understood, that even the rails 26 and 27 may take on other cross-sectional configurations, commensurate with the desired features of this invention.

With reference to FIG. 2, and to FIG. 3, it will be seen that a bowling ball 25 is seated on the cushions 42, with the seating structure 40 generally being centrally disposed with respect to the carrying structure 12, when the bag 11 is closed, and that, upon opening the bag 11, the seating structure 40 may be moved either leftward or rightward, as illustrated in FIG. 2, between the end positions illustrated in phantom, for access toa storage portion 53 located at the bottom of the bag l1,

beneath the bowling ball 25, for facilitating the storage of articles, such as bowling shoes 54 therein, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

It will be apparent that articles such as bowling shoes 54 a be read'l 'ns rted 'nto th t t 53 of $1. bag 1 1,affe i' the bowling baii z s ii ii ei ated on the device 12, without removal of the bowling ball 25 from within the bag 11. It will also be apparent that the bowling ball 25 is readily slidable on its seating device 40, across and parallel to the bottom 17 of the bag 11.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that various modifications may be made in the details of construction, as well as in the use of the device of this invention, all within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A carrying case adapted for containing a bowling ball, said case comprising a receptacle having a bowling ball carrying structure disposed therein, said receptacle including sidewalls, a bottom wall, an openable top and carrying means for said receptacle, said bowling ball carrying structure including a platform for carrying a bowling ball spaced above the receptacle bottom, and means on said bowling ball carrying structure for facilitating movement of a bowling ball across the receptacle for access to the receptacle bottom from the top of said receptacle, said means facilitating move ment of a bowling ball including bowling ball seating means mounted on said platform for relative movement thereacross.

2. A carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said bowling ball carrying structure is removably disposed in said receptacle bottom.

3. A carrying case according to claim 2 wherein said bowling ball carrying structure is unconnected to said receptacle.

4. A carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said means facilitating movement includes sliding means on which said seating means are carried.

5. A carrying case according to claim 4 wherein said platform includes rails spaced across said receptacle interior and upstanding leg portions spacing said rails above the receptacle bottom, with the rails extending parallel to the direction of desired movement of a bowling ball when access to the bottom is desired, with said sliding means being in sliding engagement with said rails.

6. A carrying case adapted for containing a bowling ball, said case comprising a receptacle having a bowling ball carrying structure disposed therein, said receptacle including sidewalls, a bottom wall, an openable top, and carrying means for said receptacle, said bowling ball carrying structure including a platform for carrying a bowling ball spaced above the receptacle bottom, and sliding means on said bowling ball carrying structure for facilitating movement of a bowling ball across the receptacle for access to the receptacle bottom from the top of said receptacle. 

1. A carrying case adapted for containing a bowling ball, said case comprising a receptacle having a bowling ball carrying structure disposed therein, said receptacle including sidewalls, a bottom wall, an openable top and carrying means for said receptacle, said bowling ball carrying structure including a platform for carrying a bowling ball spaced above the receptacle bottom, and means on said bowling ball carrying structure for facilitating movement of a bowling ball across the receptacle for access to the receptacle bottom from the top of said receptacle, said means facilitating movement of a bowling ball including bowling ball seating means mounted on said platform for relative movement thereacross.
 2. A carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said bowling ball carrying structure is removably disposed in said receptacle bottom.
 3. A carrying case according to claim 2 wherein said bowling ball carrying structure is unconnected to said receptacle.
 4. A carrying case according to claim 1, wherein said means facilitating movement includes sliding means on which said seating means are carried.
 5. A carrying case according to claim 4 wherein said platform includes rails spaced across said receptacle interior and upstanding leg portions spacing said rails above the receptacle bottom, with the rails extending parallel to the direction of desired movement of a bowling ball when access to the bottom is desired, with said sliding means being in sliding engagement with said rails.
 6. A carrying case adapted for containing a bowling ball, said case comprising a receptacle having a bowling ball carrying structure disposed therein, said receptacle including sidewalls, a bottom wall, an openable top, and carrying means for said receptacle, said bowling ball carrying structure including a platform for carrying a bowling ball spaced above the receptacle bottom, and sliding means on said bowling ball carrying structure for facilitating movement of a bowling ball across the receptacle for access to the receptacle bottom from the top of said receptacle. 